Some annuals give excellent flowers to cut. Plan a special flower bed in an inconspicuous corner of your garden (or inside the kitchen garden), where you can pick bouquets without disturbing the aesthetics of your beds.
Two sowing methods
Annuals are grown in many ways to accommodate their requirements and the timing of their flowering. The simplest for the amateur gardener is to be content with two very simple methods:
Seeding in the nursery in late winter or early spring
This process helps to advance the time of flowering. The establishment takes place as soon as the young plants are strong enough.
Sowing directly in place
This is mandatory for annuals that do not support transplanting or behave much better as well. This is the case for: summer adonide, beautiful day, clarkia, flax, malope, nigelle and sun.
A large number of spring-planted annuals (usually in April-May) bloom perfectly during the summer. Use this means of multiplication which is truly the least complicated of all.
Our selection of annual plants
Acroclinium
Height 30 to 50 cm. Color white, red or pink. Flowering July-August. Especially for making dry bouquets for the winter.
Sowing in nursery or in place from May.
ageratum
It forms small tufts particularly decorative, 15 to 25 cm high. There are many varieties, all excellent for beds, flowerbeds and borders. Blue is the most popular because this tone is not particularly common in plants.
June flowering with frost. Sowing in nursery from March to May.
Alysses (silver basket)
Very spectacular flowers in long ears falling to the ground, which makes it popularly called fox tail. Reaches up to 1 m in height. The flowering spikes can enter the composition of bouquets. Dried in the shade, they keep for a long time. Red amaranth color but also yellow or pink.
August flowering with frosts. Sowing in nursery in March-April.
Arctotis
Develops large heads that are reminiscent of a large daisy but of different colors. Use in flowerbeds and gives beautiful flowers to cut. Height 60 to 80 cm.
Colors: white, mauve, orange, yellow or cream.
It is especially a plant for the South because its flowers do not open below 18 ° C.
Sowing in March-April in nursery.
Balsam
Very popular because of its extremely easy culture. Reaches 50 to 60 cm in height. There are dwarf varieties that hardly exceed 25 to 30 cm. Use in beds and flowerbeds. It is one of the few annual plants that grow well in the shade.
Flowers (June to October) of delicate hues in a variety of shades ranging from white to mauve through pink and red. Sowing in nursery in April or May.
Beautiful day
The flowers, resembling volubilis, have the distinction of closing at night. Height 30 to 40 cm. Use in flowerbeds, beds or in rock gardens. Colors: white, blue, pink, red, often variegated tones.
Flowering from July through September. Sowing in place in April-May.
Begonia
Annual species are generally presented in the catalogs under three headings: F1 hybrids, gracilis and semperflorens. They are small plants 15 to 30 cm high, bushy, decorative foliage sometimes nuanced with red and bronze, which cover, from May to frost, many flowers. Used for the creation of beds, beds or curbs.
Color: pink, red, carmine or white. Sow in nursery as early as possible in early spring.
Brachycome
Who does not know the nasturtium that takes its name from the shape of its flowers reminding the hood of religious of the order of the Capuchins. There are low varieties, 25 to 40 cm high, and climbing varieties up to 3 to 4 m. Flowers of very varied colors and variegated in shades of yellow, orange and red, from June to frosts.
Sowing in pots in April or in place in May. The nasturtium has the defect of attracting the aphids which settle by massive colonies especially on its foliage.
knapweed
Height 50 to 60 cm. Pink, salmon, purple, purple or white flowers. Use in flower beds or beds. It's a good flower for vases.
Sowing in place, staggered from March to June, which allows to obtain flowers from June to October.
Coreopsis
One of the most graceful and elegant annual as well with its flowers as its light foliage. Height 70 cm to 1.20 m. Simple white, pink or purple flowers from June to October. The Cosmos enters all the floral arrangements and gives excellent flowers for the vases.
Sow in February-March in nursery or in April in place.
Dimorphotheca
Height 25-30 cm. Golden yellow and orange color. Flowering from June to September. Calls a lot of sun. Resist very well to drought.
Eschscholtzia
© H. Zell (CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0))
Height 40 cm. Yellow, red, white, mauve or orange. Flowering July-August. Very good plant for mass effect.
Succeeds well at the edge of the sea and in sandy soil. Give good flowers to cut. Sowing in April-May in place.
ficoïde
Height 10 to 15 cm. Purplish pink color. Flowering in June-July. Plant especially for the South. The flowers only open in full sun.
Sowing in nursery in March.
Godetia
Height 25 cm to 1 m according to the species, very varied colors, blooming July-September. Plant very easy to cultivate that is used in baskets or borders, excellent in cut flower.
Sowing in place in April-May.
Spanish beans
Climbing plant that can quickly garnish an arbor, a trellis or a wall. Flowers of various colors. The fruits are edible.
Sowing in place in May. Flowering from July through September.
Heliotrope
Height 30 to 40 cm. Especially interesting for making dry bouquets. Various colors.
Sowing in place in April-May. Flowering from August to October.
Impatiens
Height 10 to 30 cm. Color white, red, purple or orange. June flowering with frost. One of the best plants for shady or exposed places in the north.
Sowing in nursery in March-April.
Morning Glory
Climbing plant whose flowers resemble those of bindweed. Garnishes very quickly arbours, trellises, walls, etc. Various colors.
Ipomoea-volubilis is one of the best varieties. Sowing in place from April to June. Flowering from July (depending on the date of sowing) until frost.
Lavatère
© Robert Steers / NPS (CC0)
Small low plant hardly exceeding 10 cm in height. Form an elegant carpet covered with tiny multicolored flowers, from July to September, for borders and rockeries.
Resists very well to heat. Sowing in place in April-May.
Linen
Height 30-40 cm. Red or pink color. Elegant plant that can be used especially in single-color spots.
Sowing in place from April to June. Flowering from June to October following the time of sowing.
Lobelia
Height 10 to 15 cm. Numerous light blue flowers from June to October. Excellent plant for borders and carpets.
Sowing in nursery in March-April.
Lupine
Annual species are probably less beautiful than perennials. They are still interesting. Various colors. Height from 60 cm to 1.50 m according to the species. Flowering July to September. Lupines form very beautiful color spots. They do not support limestone soils.
Sowing in place from April to June.
Malope
Height 60-80 cm. Dark red color. Very strong plant for flower beds.
Sowing in place in April-May. Flowering July-August.
Snapdragon
Known as the Snapdragon. Height 40 to 60 cm. Flowers of very varied colors from August to October. For all uses in the garden. Some varieties give good flowers to cut.
Sowing in nursery from March to April.
Némophile
© Kurt Stüber (1) (CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/))
Height 20 to 25 cm. Form very quickly beautiful flowery carpets. The varieties with blue flowers are the most interesting.
Flowering from June to October. Sowing in place from March to June.
Nigella
Height 40-50 cm. Blue, pink, red or white. Plant extremely easy to cultivate and very elegant with its finely cut foliage. For flowerbeds, baskets and especially cut flowers.
Sowing in place from March to May. Flowering June-July.
Eyelet
Several species are grown in annuals especially for the flower to be cut. Very varied colors. Excellent perfume. Height 40 to 50 cm. Flowering occurs only about 6 months after sowing.
The gardener is interested in getting spring seedlings already developed which allows to have flowers from July.
Marigold
Height 25 to 30 cm. Yellow or red-brown color. Flowering from July to October. It is one of the most solid plants for floral decorations.
Sowing in nursery in April-May.
Petunia
One of the most floriferous plants. Height of 25 to 60 cm according to the varieties. Extremely varied colors. Use for all floral decorations.
Flowering from June to October. Sowing in nursery in April-May.
Sweet Pea
Climbing plant up to 2 m tall. Flowers of various colors in July-August. Good plant to garnish trellises.
Give flowers to cut with delicate scent. Sowing in place in March-April.
purslane
Height 15-20 cm. Bright various colors. Flowering July to September. One of the plants that best resists very sunny and arid exposures. For small borders.
Sowing in place in April-May.
Queen Daisy
Height 30 to 60 cm according to the varieties. Color and shape of flowers very varied. Flowering August-September. Excellent plant for all floral decorations, it also gives good flowers to cut. Sowing in nursery in March-April.
Reseda
Height 20 to 80 cm, depending on the varieties. Very abundant flowers in yellow and orange colors, from July to jellies. Plant among the most decorative. Gives excellent flowers to cut.
Sowing in nursery in April.
sweetcorn
Height 20 to 40 cm. Clusters of scarlet red flowers from June to October. One of the most vibrant plants in this color.
Sowing in nursery in March-April.
scabious
Height 50 to 80 cm. Very varied colors including blue and red. Flowering July-October. Excellent plant for flower beds and also for the cut flower.
Sowing in place in April-May.
Silenus
Height 60-60 cm. The bright pink flower variety is the most sought after. Flowering July-August. For flower beds but especially for the cut flower.
Sowing in place in April-May.
Sun (Sunflower)
Often exceeds 2 m in height. Color varies from yellow to brown. Difficult to use because of their size, these plants can constitute a temporary hedge.
Sowing in place in May. Flowering late summer.
Worry
Height 40 to 50 cm. Bright yellow and orange flowers, from July to October. Very decorative plant in the garden. Also gives excellent flowers to cut.
Sowing in place from April to July.
Verbena
Height 20 cm. Flowers having almost all the colors, as well in whites, reds or blues. Good border plant.
Flowering from June to October. Sowing in nursery in April.
Zinnia
Height 20 to 30 cm for the dwarf species, 60 to 80 cm for the high. White, yellow, orange, red and purple flowers, from July to October. Excellent plant for beds and borders. Also gives excellent flowers to cut.
Sowing in nursery in April.
How to choose your annuals?
To help you choose the annuals that best suit what you expect, here they are classified according to their main uses, dimensions and colors:
For flowers to cut
Arctotis, centaury, clarkia, coreopsis, cosmos, eschscholtzia, godetia, lavatera, snapdragon, nigella, carnation, sweet pea, queen-daisy, indian rose, scabious, silene, marigold and zinnia
For dry bouquets
Acroclinium, amaranth, immortal and lunar.
For calcareous soil
Few annuals accept a very calcareous soil, only amaranth, eschscholtzia and carnation are well behaved.
For poor and dry terrain
Acroclinium, daylily, nasturtium, centaury, clarkia, coreopsis, cosmos, dimorphoteca, eschscholtzia, godetia, purslane, marigold and zinnia.
For wet ground
Amaranth, beautiful night, flax, rose, sun and marigold.
For shady place
No annual does not bloom well if it does not have enough sun. However, they behave properly: balsam, begonia gracilis, nasturtium, clarkia, godetia and impatiens.
By color
The range of colors of annual plants is very wide. Some species have flowers of different tones depending on the variety, which allows for very diverse compositions.
White
Alysses silver basket, begonia, cosmos, Spanish beans, centaury, zinnia, eschscholtzia, petunia, clarkia, queen-daisy.
Pink
Begonia, centaury, clarkia, cosmos, eschscholtzia, petunia, sweet peas, queen-daisy.
Red
Adonide, amaranth, balsam, begonia, nasturtium, centaury, clarkia, cosmos, eschscholtzia, gaillarde, Spanish beans, impatiens, ipomea, peas, queen-daisy, sage.
Blue
Ageratum, centaury, heliotrope, ipomea-volubilis, lobelia, petunia, sweet pea, queen-daisy.
Purple
Clarkia, cowpea, ipomea-volubilis, sweet pea, queen-daisy.
Yellow
Capucine, coreopsis, snapdragon, sweet pea, rose, marigold, zinnia.
Orange
Capuchin, clarkia, cosmos, snapdragon, marigold.
Dark color (garnet to blackish)
Capucine, coreopsis, snapdragon, sweet peas, zinnia.
The fragrant
If you are looking for fragrant flowers, there are some annuals, including: silver basket, heliotrope, carnation, sweet pea and reseda.
The annuals to decorate
Some annuals are used for their decorative foliage. They make it possible to realize color contrasts, to highlight the flowering plants or to replace missing shrubs.
The amaranth tricolore
Very attractive by its foliage (stained yellow and red), amaranth tricolor reaches 1 m of height. The plant takes, during the season, a bright crimson color very original. Large beds can be formed or formed into an isolated group in the middle of a green space.
Sowing in nursery in March-April. Tricolor amaranth prefers cool, non-calcareous soils and a sunny exposure.
The coleus
Plant with brightly colored foliage and variegated with white, red, yellow, purple or purple, the coleus hardly exceeds 25 to 30 cm in height. Its flowering is irrelevant. Cut the inflorescences as soon as they appear. They exhaust the plant while harming its beauty. The coleus can make beautiful beds.
Sowing in nursery in February-March. Coleus likes humus soils, a little cool. A sunny exposure brightens its colors but it should not be too hot otherwise the leaves may burn.
The kochia
Kochia with light, light green foliage naturally takes the form of a small cypress. It reaches 1 m in height. In autumn, it is colored purple.
Use it to form a temporary hedge, fill the foot with a wall or hide a void in any part of the garden.
Sowing in nursery in April or in place in May. It adapts to all soils and is hardly demanding for exposure.
